2012 Toyota Prius C (photos)

Toyota's smallest Prius is a little hatchback with a modern design and dimensions very suitable for city parking.

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Toyota has deemed its Prius hybrid so successful, the company is launching other new models bearing the Prius name. The Prius C is the third model in the lineup, following the original Prius liftback and the slightly larger Prius V. The Prius C is designed to be a small, entry-level Prius.
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Editors' Rating

The architecture of the hybrid power train is the same as that of the other Prius models, but with a smaller engine and electric motor. The total output of this system is 99 horsepower, and it averages over 50 mpg in a variety of driving conditions.
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Editors' Rating

The interior is covered in hard plastics, which cheapens the feel, but the two-tone cloth seats look nice. The Prius C showcases new Toyota navigation technology, along with the Entune app integration system.
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Editors' Rating

As with Toyota's other hybrids, the shifter is merely a drive selector, with the standard Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive positions. It does offer a B setting as well, which maximizes regeneration.
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Editors' Rating

This new navigation head unit, standard in the Prius C Three trim, shows maps in 2D or 3D. The new maps have a nice look, but the head unit is difficult to see when the sun is out because of the glare.
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Editors' Rating

Toyota retains the power-flow animation display on the main screen, although it can also be called up on the instrument cluster display. This screen shows when the battery is being charged and whether power to the wheels is coming from the engine or electric motor.
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Editors' Rating

We searched on the term "fries" using Bing, and it came up with these results in the San Francisco Bay Area. The results are tied to the navigation system, so can be quickly set as a destination.
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Editors' Rating

The Bluetooth hands-free phone system does everything we would expect, and it also has text message integration. Unfortunately, few phones support the protocol that lets the car display text messages.
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